As seen, anyone who has purchased Windows 8 can upgrade their computer for free to Windows 8.1. Windows 8.1 is not a service pack, but a new operating system that installs on and replaces Windows 8.
Many people, after installing it or to install version 8.1 of Windows from scratch, look for the ISO, the disk image that would allow you to install Windows 8.1 on a computer without having to go through the automatic update from the Store.
It is therefore necessary to know that Microsoft, intentionally, to avoid piracy problems or unauthorized installations, does not provide a link to download Windows 8.1 directly from the internet.
In practice, Microsoft prevents users from updating the computer without an internet connection and asks those who have more than one computer with Windows 8 to download it two or more times (since it is 3.5 GB is not a fun thing).
Therefore, Windows 8.1 cannot be installed using a Windows 8 product key.
Worse still, Microsoft appears to punish its most loyal users by refusing to provide a downloadable installation CD in the form of an ISO archive or similar, which would allow users to install or update the operating system multiple times with a single download.
READ FIRST: How to activate Windows 8 after a new installation
Those who bought Windows 8, as seen, can download the ISO of Windows 8 using the product key received during the purchase.
Unfortunately, trying to download Windows 8.1 with that product key you receive an error and it is not accepted, as if the one purchased was not the 8.1.
In practice, Microsoft asks them to install version 8 and then update it from the Store, without the possibility of being able to download Windows 8.1 directly to be able to put it on a CD.
The update assistant also rejects the regular product key provided with Windows 8.1.
2014 update: Microsoft has made available the download of Windows 8.1 in Italian without product key .
So, to download Windows 8.1 with the Windows 8 product key you have to work for a moment using some tricks.
The best trick is the following, easy and immediate, which overcomes the problem of the rejected or invalid product key .
Having a valid product key for Windows 8, proceed as follows:
- Go to the Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 download page and download the media creation tool.
During the installation phase, if we do not have a valid product key, you can temporarily use the generic product key that allows you to install Windows 8.1 :
Windows 8.1 Professional: GCRJD-8NW9H-F2CDX-CCM8D-9D6T9
Windows 8.1 Enterprise: MHF9N-XY6XB-WVXMC-BTDCT-MKKG7
Later, however, you will have to remedy an original and legitimate product key if you want to continue using Windows 8.1 or if you want to update to Windows 10.
If the product key should not be accepted during the installation phase, you can read the guide on how to find the Windows Product Key and validate the authentic copy and use, during installation, the generic test product-keys.
After installing it, go to Control Panel -> System and change the product key by entering the right one.
If that doesn't work, open the command prompt and type the following command as computer administrator:
slmgr.vbs -ipk PRODUCTKEY-number
slmgr.vbs -ato to activate it
slmgr.vbs -dlv to verify activation.
In PC settings you can check that the activation has been completed.
This should solve the problems of downloading and activating Windows 8.1 if you have a product key for Windows 8 which, according to Microsoft, would not be enough for a clean installation of Windows 8.1
READ ALSO: Help and solutions to the Windows 8.1 update with errors and problems
